Quinn took Emira from him first and gently lowered her to her feet, while August bent down so Alara could join her sister on the floor.
“I’m so sorry about him,” Quinn said to Matthew, the team physician he had just been talking to. “I wouldn’t have let him bring my nieces here if I knew he planned on carrying them.”
“Is okay,” Fedorov said, and Matthew nodded along in agreement. “Snow is pain in butt to treat. We are used to him.”
“Pain in butt,” Emira agreed.
The small joke helped smooth the stress lines on Quinn’s brow when he forced a laugh, but August knew a lecture was incoming after everyone left.
“We won’t be here for long because we have another patient,” said Matthew, keeping his wording vague so the children wouldn’t get upset. “But I need to have a quick word with you, August, and then Ana will be taking over your care afterward.”
August checked to make sure the girls were holding onto Quinn before gesturing Matthew toward his room. “Lead the way.”
Everyone else stayed in the hall while Matthew sat him on the bed and did his own exam so he could write notes in August’s chart. He undid the bandage to observe the cut, commenting on the excellent suture job before he rewrapped August’s arm and moved on.
“We saw there was no head contact,” said Matthew. “So as long as you listen to Ana and stop carrying children around, you should be able to play in two weeks. Can you show me your range of movement?”
The numbing was wearing off, and the stitches pulled when he twisted his wrist too far, but he followed Matthew’s directions until the doctor was satisfied with whatever he saw. He offered to prescribe August pain meds, but August refused because his head was fucked up enough as it was, and he didn’t want to risk being zoned out if Quinn needed him.
“You’re not going to be discharged until tomorrow,” said Matthew. “And with Callahan’s outcome being so uncertain, someone will inquireabout a family room for you and Mr. Harlow to stay in for now. Until Callahan wakes up, it would be best if you kept close.”
“Wake up?” August licked his dry lips. “Do you think he will? Wake up, I mean?”
Matthew’s mouth pressed together—and then the corners dipped into a frown. “The first twenty-four hours are the most critical. Let’s get over this hurdle first before we start making any assumptions, okay?”
August flexed his tied hand, letting the burn of the laces quiet his mind.
“Okay.”
Matthew patted his shoulder and stood, and it wasn’t until the doctor walked out of the room that he realized everyone was treating him like he was Quinn’s boyfriend, and no one had questioned his staying.
The thought of leaving Quinn never crossed his mind, and he didn’t know how word had gotten around about them other than that stupid news article, but the relief of not having to explain himself left him feeling floaty.
Fedorov poked his head through the doorway andtsked. “Snow, we are leaving. If you need anything, ask someone. We are setting you up with therapist tomorrow, yes?”
Management would want him to talk to someone about what happened to Eren. It was all part of keeping a player at their best so they could perform their best.
“I have a therapist,” said August. “I already made an appointment, so I’m good.”
Fedorov raised a dark brow, but then he nodded and dropped the topic. “The Merlin kid. He won’t cause trouble?”
August shook his head.
“Okay. We will see.”
There was no elaboration. Fedorov didn’t even wave goodbye before leaving; he just sighed and disappeared through the doorway, only to be quickly replaced by Niko.
“Can’t stay. Coach is kicking me out,” said Niko as he wheeled the suitcase over to the bed. “Can you—just take care of Cap, alright?”
August stood and yanked Niko into a hug, squeezing him until he heard his joints popping in protest. “Have fun in Colorado tomorrow. I’ll keep an eye on the score, and if Dax Merlin shows up, try to be nice, and don’t be yourself.”
Niko sniffled, but he shoved August when he pushed away from the hug. “Fuck off, asshole. Let me know if Eren…”
Niko didn’t have to say it. August heard the request loud and clear.
It hurt to watch Niko walking away looking so defeated, but August smiled when he paused to say goodbye to Quinn and the girls, showing off the softer side he reserved only for the people he trusted. Once he was gone, Emira and Alara came inside to explore, and August got to work on setting up the cot for himself so that they and Quinn could have the bed.
The cleaning staff had been in the room to tidy during his brief departure to pick up the twins, so the blood-splattered sheets were gone and replaced with pristine white. Quinn saw him setting up the cot and raced over, glaring until August let go of the pillows he had been holding to lift his hands in surrender.
